Respiratory mask arrangement as well as headband arrangement and respiratory gas evacuation device for a respiratory mask

ABSTRACT

A respiratory mask arrangement that can be used in the framework of CPAP therapy for treating sleep-related disturbances, for example. The respiratory mask arrangement may include a sealing lip device to be placed on a facial surface of a mask user, a covering device which defines a mask interior in cooperation with the sealing lip device, and a respiratory gas conduit unit for delivering respiratory gas to the mask interior that is defined by the covering device and is connected to the nostril and/or oral opening of the mask user. At least some sections of the covering device may be embodied as an air-permeable structure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/563,857, filed Jul. 10, 2006, which was the U.S. national phaseapplication of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/007599, filedJul. 9, 2004, which claims the benefit of German Application No. 103 31134.3, filed Jul. 9, 2003 and German Application No. 103 35 162.0, filedJul. 30, 2003, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a respiratory mask arrangement, of the kindthat can be used for instance in CPAP therapy for the treatment ofsleep-related breathing disorders. The invention also relates to aheadband arrangement for a respiratory mask and to a respiratory gasevacuation device for a respiratory mask arrangement, for evacuatingCO2-laden respiratory mask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the aforementioned CPAP therapy, a breathable gas, in particularambient air, can be delivered to a patient via a respiratory mask at apressure level that is above the ambient pressure level. By means of therespiratory gas that is under pressure, a pneumatic tracking of theupper airways can be attained, and any obstructions can thereby beaverted. In carrying out a pressurized breathing or CPAP therapy, therespiratory mask arrangements required for delivering the respiratorygas are typically worn by the patient for the entire duration of thepatient's sleeping or resting phase. The respiratory mask arrangement istypically braced via a sealing lip zone in the region surrounding themask user's nose and via a forehead-mounted device in the region of themake user's forehead. The retention forces required to apply therespiratory mask arrangement may be brought to bear by a fixationdevice, which for example has a headband that extends around the back ofthe mask user's head. The evacuation of the respiratory gas, which maybe laden with CO2, from the interior region of the respiratory mask canbe done via bores whose open cross section is defined such that asufficiently great outflow of the respiratory gas is made possible.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to furnish embodiments by which areliable evacuation of CO2-laden respiratory gas from the interiorregion of a respiratory mask arrangement is advantageously assured.

Attainment of the Object According to the Invention

In a first aspect, A respiratory mask arrangement having a sealing lipdevice for resting on the facial surface of a mask user, a coveringdevice which in cooperation with the sealing lip device defines a maskinterior, a respiratory gas evacuation device for delivering respiratorygas to the mask interior defined by the covering device, this maskinterior communicating with the nostril and/or the oral opening of themask user; the covering device is embodied at least in some portions asa permeable structure.

It thus becomes advantageously possible to create a respiratory maskarrangement which furnishes a gas outflow area that enables a diffuseoutflow of gas while emitting little noise.

The covering device is preferably made from an air-permeable wovenmaterial, in particular GORE-TEX® material. As an alternative to thisprovision, or in combination with it, it is also possible to make thecovering device from a porous material.

Especially advantageously, the covering device is made from a flexiblematerial which is deployed or inflated in the mask interior under theinfluence of pressure. The air permeability of the air-permeablematerial and the area of the portion defined thereby are selected suchthat a sufficient outflow of gas from the mask interior is assured.

The covering device or the sealing lip device may be coupled with aheadband arrangement. The headband arrangement itself may likewise beused to furnish a gas outflow area. This gas outflow area can be formedby a hoselike zone of an air-permeable hose material.

The sealing lip device is preferably glued or vulcanized or sprayed ontothe covering device. It is also possible to couple the covering devicedetachably with the sealing lip device, or to embody the sealing lipdevice integrally with the covering device. It is possible to deploy thecovering device by means of supporting wall structures.

The covering device may also have a hard shell body and a woven outletportion coupled to the hard shell body. This woven outlet portionpreferably has an area of at least 3.7 cm².

The invention also relates to a headband arrangement for a respiratorymask; the headband arrangement in at least some portions is made of anair-permeable material and includes a conduit unit which is incommunication with a mask interior defined by the respiratory mask, insuch a manner that an outflow from the mask interior of respiratory gasthat is under pressure can be effected through the air-permeablematerial portion provided in the headband.

Advantageous features of this invention are the subject of the dependentclaims.

The object stated initially above is also attained, in a further aspect,by a respiratory mask arrangement having an arched member, a sealing lipdevice for resting on the facial surface of a mask user, and arespiratory gas conduit unit for delivering respiratory gas to a maskinterior that is defined by the arched member and is in communicationwith the nostril and/or the oral opening of the mask user; incooperation with the arched member, an air guide path is defined thatextends from a respiratory gas inlet area to a respiratory gas outletarea and extends at least in some portions along a wall defining thearched member.

As a result, it advantageously becomes possible to create a respiratorymask arrangement that is easily cleaned and is distinguished by lownoise and an only slight idle volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and characteristics of the invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description in conjunction with the drawings.Shown are:

FIG. 1, a sketch for explaining a first embodiment of a respiratory maskaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2, a sketch for explaining a second embodiment of a respiratorymask;

FIG. 3, a sketch for explaining a woven material portion;

FIG. 4, a sketch for explaining the micropore structure obtained by aloose hook-and-loop fastening in a woven material;

FIG. 5, a sketch for explaining an outlet insert, formed of a wovenmaterial, for a hard shell for the mask;

FIG. 6, a sketch for explaining an embodiment of the invention forattaining the second aspect of the object of the invention;

FIG. 7, a sketch for explaining a preferred construction of a hard shelland of an insert element intended to be inserted into it;

FIG. 8a , a sketch for explaining a preferred embodiment of an insertelement of the application structure of the respiratory mask arrangementshown above;

FIG. 8b , a sketch for explaining a preferred internal design of a hardshell with a receiving portion for receiving the insert element of FIG.8 a;

FIG. 9a , a schematic representation of a respiratory mask showing aheadband arrangement according to an example of the present technology;and

FIG. 9b , a sketch showing an air-permeable zone of the headbandarrangement of FIG. 9 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The respiratory mask arrangement shown in FIG. 1 includes a sealing lipdevice 1, made from an elastomer material, in particular siliconerubber, and a covering device 2. The sealing lip device 1 is embodiedsuch that it encompasses a receiving opening, intended to receive thenasal region of a mask user, and preferably crosses over the bridge ofthe nose and the upper lip region of the mask user. The sealing lipdevice 1 thus has a substantially saddle-shaped silhouette.

The covering device 2 is embodied such that in cooperation with thesealing lip device 1, it defines a mask interior. The mask interior isin communication with a respiratory gas conduit unit 3, for deliveringrespiratory gas to the mask interior defined by the covering device andcommunicating with the nostril and/or the oral opening of the mask user.The covering device is embodied in at least some portions as anair-permeable woven structure. The respiratory gas conduit unit 3 formsa connection stub for coupling a respiratory gas hose. The respiratorymask arrangement shown serves to deliver respiratory gas at a pressurelevel that is above the ambient pressure. Under the influence of thepressure, the covering device 2 is deployed in the mask interior betweenits peripheral attachment points, that is, between the sealing lipdevice 2 and the respiratory gas conduit unit 3.

FIG. 2 shows a further variant of a respiratory mask. In this mask, thecovering device 2 is embodied as stitched by means of seam segments 2 a,2 b, 2 c, 2 d. The course of the seam segments and the shape of thewoven zones located between them are adapted such that the coveringdevice is given a defined shape under the influence of the respiratorygas pressure.

It is also possible to place the covering device on a ribbed structure,or to embody it as an insert element for a hard shell.

Instead of a woven material, nonwoven or filter materials or other kindsof porous materials may be used, such as micro perforated plastic films.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of a covering device made from a woven material.

FIG. 4 shows warp threads 5 and weft threads 6 of the woven portion ofFIG. 3. Between the warp and weft threads, interstices are definedthrough which CO2-laden respiratory gas can escape from the maskinterior.

FIG. 5 shows an insert element for a hard mask shell. The insert elementincludes a porous zone 7, which is made from an air-permeable material.Via this porous zone, CO2-laden respiratory gas can escape from the maskinterior.

The respiratory masks described can be secured by means of headbandarrangements, e.g., headband 34 connecting to headgear connectors 35, asillustrated in FIG. 8b . Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b , in someexamples, headband arrangements 45 can be used to evacuate respiratorygas, because they may have air-permeable zones 47 which communicate withthe mask interior via a conduit unit.

The respiratory mask arrangement shown in FIG. 6 includes a sealing lipdevice 21, made from an elastomer material, in particular siliconerubber, and an arched member 22. The sealing lip device 21 is embodiedsuch that it encompasses a receiving opening, intended to receive thenasal region of a mask user, and preferably crosses over the bridge ofthe nose and the upper lip region of the mask user. The sealing lipdevice 21 thus has a substantially saddle-shaped silhouette.

The arched member is embodied such that it defines an air guide path 23,which extends from a respiratory gas inlet area E to a respiratory gasoutlet area A, and extends at least in some portions along a wall thatdefines the arched member 22.

The air guide path 23 is defined, toward the mask interior region, by aninsert element 24. The arched member 22 is also provided with a fixationdevice, for installing the insert element 24. A covering portion 24 a isembodied on the insert element 24 and rests on a fluted conduitstructure 25, which is embodied in the inner region of the sealing lipdevice 21.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, the insert element 24 can be installed inthe inner region of the arched member 22. A receiving portion 26 isembodied in the inner region of the arched member 22, for receiving theinsert element 24.

As can be seen from FIG. 8a , conduit structures 27 are embodied in theinsert element 24. The conduit structures 27 are adapted such that adefined flow resistance is obtained. The conduit structures 27 extendfrom an inlet region E to an outlet region A. In the installed state,the conduit portions 27 are covered by the wall of the arched member 22.The insert element 24 is made from an elastomer material. In the insertelement 24, labyrinth structures are formed by the conduit portions 27.The insert element 24 can be coupled to the arched member by clampingaction. For additional sealing, a sealing lip 24 c extending all the wayaround is embodied on the insert element 24. The insert element 24 shownhere can be inserted from the inside into the arched member 22 shown inFIG. 8 b.

As can be seen from FIG. 8b , there are outlet openings A1, A2 in thearched member 22, which match the outlet region A of the insert elementand make an outflow of the used breathing air possible. In thisexemplary embodiment, the arched member 22 itself is made of athermoplastic material. The receiving region 32 intended for receivingthe insert element 24 can be defined by an indentation or by acircumferential wall.

It is also possible to accomplish the fixation of the insert element bymeans of pegs or other retention means.

The insert element is embodied here by a low rectangular body. It isalso possible to design the insert element in some other way, inparticular as a cylindrical disk or as a polygonal prism. The insertelement can also be designed such that certain throttling effects areobtained as a result of its position on the arched member.

The insert element may also be designed such that as a function of theinternal pressure, various flow resistances are obtained, in particularby deformation of the conduit portions 27.

What is claimed is:
 1. A respiratory mask arrangement, comprising: arespiratory mask for delivering respiratory gas to a patient; a gasconduit connected to the respiratory mask to deliver the respiratory gasto the respiratory mask; and a headband arrangement to secure therespiratory mask on a patient's face when the respiratory mask is worn,the headband arrangement including at least one air-permeable zonecomprising a material that is air-permeable, wherein the headbandarrangement includes a conduit unit in fluid communication with a maskinterior of the respiratory mask and the at least one air-permeablezone, and wherein the headband arrangement is configured to evacuate toatmosphere via the at least one air-permeable zone pressurized gas fromthe mask interior when the respiratory mask is in use.
 2. Therespiratory mask arrangement of claim 1, wherein the respiratory maskincludes a covering portion of a woven material, and wherein thecovering portion is coupled with the headband arrangement.
 3. Therespiratory mask arrangement of claim 2, wherein the covering portion isconfigured to be inflated under the influence of the respiratory gaswhen the mask is worn.
 4. The respiratory mask arrangement of claim 2,wherein the covering portion covers a front side of the mask.
 5. Therespiratory mask arrangement of claim 2, further comprising: a receivingportion formed on a back side of the mask, the receiving portion forreceiving a nasal region of a user; and a seal portion for forming aseal with the nasal region of the user, wherein the gas conduit isconnected to the woven material of the covering portion for deliveringthe respiratory gas to the respiratory mask.
 6. The respiratory maskarrangement of claim 5, wherein the receiving opening is shaped to forma seal with an upper lip region and a bridge of the nose region of theuser.
 7. The respiratory mask arrangement of claim 5, wherein the sealportion is glued or vulcanized or sprayed onto the covering portion. 8.The respiratory mask arrangement of claim 5, wherein the coveringportion is detachably coupled with the seal portion.
 9. The respiratorymask arrangement of claim 5, wherein the seal portion is embodiedintegrally with the covering portion.
 10. The respiratory maskarrangement of claim 2, wherein the covering portion is flexible. 11.The respiratory mask arrangement of claim 2, wherein the coveringportion comprises an air-permeable woven material.
 12. The respiratorymask arrangement of claim 2, wherein the covering portion is porous. 13.The respiratory mask arrangement of claim 2, wherein the coveringportion includes a gas outflow area to provide a diffuse outflow of gasfrom the mask interior to atmosphere.
 14. The respiratory maskarrangement of claim 13, wherein an air permeability of the wovenmaterial and an area of a portion defined thereby are selected toproduce the outflow of gas from the mask interior.
 15. The respiratorymask arrangement of claim 1, wherein the respiratory mask includes asealing portion to seal with the patient's face, and the sealing portionis coupled with the headband arrangement.